regency
n. C / Un. a period of time when a person rules a country because the king or queen is too young, old, or sick to do it. It often refers to a specific style of art and furniture from early 19th-century England.
n. the office or period of government by a person appointed to administer a state because the monarch is incapacitated or underage. When capitalised, it specifically denotes the period in British history from 1811 to 1820.
The prince took over the regency when the king became ill.
During the regency, the prince acted as the head of state while his father was unable to perform his duties.
The Regency era is celebrated for its distinctive architectural elegance and the sophisticated social comedies of manners found in the literature of the period.
Often used as a proper noun (Regency) when referring to the specific historical period in the United Kingdom.